Quick Start - Nexcesscdn.net

Quick Start 

Turn on the detector 

Press NOISE CANCEL 

After 30 seconds electrical interference will be reduced 

Go Detecting!

Congratulations on 

Purchasing Your 

Metal detecting is a fascinating and 

rewarding activity enjoyed by people all 

over the world. By getting to know your 

Explorer SE you can become one of the 

many who find valuable coins, relics, 

gold and jewelry on a regular basis. 

The Explorer SE is Minelab’s most 

technologically advanced detector, 

incorporating the unique Full Band 

Spectrum (FBS) Technology. 

Its sleek, sturdy design, innovative 

control panel, lightweight coil and 

comprehensive targeting options set it 

apart from any other detector available 

today. 

The Explorer SE will locate valuable 

metal objects in a variety of ground 

conditions, including extreme salt 

conditions and sea water, wet beach 

sand and highly mineralized ground 

conditions. 

1 

This manual is designed to help both 

the beginner and expert treasure hunter 

get the best performance out of the 

Explorer SE. 

Minelab wishes you every success in 

your treasure hunting!

2 Contents 

All Metal - Accepting All Targets 36 

3 

Quick Start Back Page 

How Metal Detectors Work 4 

The Unique Technology of the Explorer SE 5 

Assembly 6 

Battery Packs 

Adjusting the Detector for 

10 

Comfortable Detecting 12 

Introducing the Control Panel 14 

Introducing the Smartfind Detect Screen 16 

Help Function 17 

Turning the Detector On 18 

Detecting Basics 19 

A Simple Detecting Exercise 20 

Detector Sounds 20 

Sensitivity 22 

Depth 23 

Threshold 24 

Full Screen Display 26 

Smartfind Display 28 

Digital Display 30 

Discrimination Pattern 32 

Changing Discrimination Patterns 33 

IRON MASK - Setting the Level of Ferrous Rejection 34 

Menu Structure 38 

SELECT - Preset Discrimination Patterns 40 

SELECT - Selecting Preset Discrimination Patterns 42 

SELECT - Saving Discrimination Patterns 

LEARN - Creating a Discrimination Pattern 

43 

with a Specific Target 44 

LEARN - Accepting a Target 46 

LEARN - Rejecting a Target 47 

LEARN - Saving Discrimination Patterns 48 

EDIT - Editing Discrimination Patterns 50 

EDIT - Editing Discrimination Patterns 52 

EDIT - Saving Discrimination Patterns 53 

RECOVERY - Enhancing Explorer SE Performance 54 

CONTRAST - Adjusting LCD Brightness 55 

NOISE CANCEL - Reducing Electrical Interference 56 

VOLUME 58 

TONE - Adjusting Audio Pitch 60 

RESPONSE - Selecting the Way Targets Sound 62 

SOUNDS - Tone Identification 64 

Pinpointing - Locating the Target 66 

Recovering the Target 68 

Where Will I Find Treasure? 69 

USER SETTINGS - Saving Your Preferred Settings 70 

User Preferences - Range, Factory Presets Table 71 

Battery Performance 72 

Accessories 74 

Technical Specifications 75 

Detector Care and Safety 76 

Troubleshooting 77 

Glossary of Terms 78 

Warranty 82 

Service Repair Form 83

4 How Metal 

The Unique Technology 

5 

Detectors Work 

of the Explorer SE 

Metal detectors create an electromagnetic 

(EM) field, which penetrates 

the ground. Because metal is conductive 

it causes a change in this field. The 

detector senses this change and sends a 

signal back to the control box, alerting 

the operator. 

Metal detectors can determine the 

size, shape and composition of metallic 

objects beneath the coil. Typically, 

the larger the object, the easier it is to 

detect. 

A metal detector’s EM operating 

frequencies are measured in kilohertz 

(kHz). 

Low frequency EM fields (e.g. 1.5 kHz) 

deeply penetrate the ground, but 

sensitivity to smaller targets is low. 

High frequency EM fields have a more 

shallow depth of penetration but 

sensitivity to small targets is high. 

The Explorer SE’s multiple frequency 

operation provides the advantage of 

both. 

Full Band Spectrum (FBS) 

Most detectors on the market operate 

on a single or dual frequency, ranging 

from 1 to 70 kilohertz (kHz) 

Although this technology has served the 

industry well for years, Minelab found 

that a frequency that worked well in one 

area would often offer only marginal 

performance when used in another 

location. Ground mineralisation, trash 

content, and target size all had an effect 

on how effective a detector transmitting 

a single frequency would operate. 

Full Band Spectrum technology 

combines Minelab’s existing multiple 

frequency BBS technology with a 

powerful new microprocessor to give: 

> greater detecting depth 

> high sensitivity over a wide range of 

targets 

> less interference from electromagnetic 

sources 

> more accurate identification of target 

characteristics. 

The Full Band Spectrum (FBS) circuit 

automatically transmits multiple 

frequencies simultaneously. This 

increased frequency range means that 

the signal received from the detector 

coil is analyzed from a wide range of 

responses. This allows the Explorer SE 

to analyse more target information so 

that the target identification (ID) is more 

accurate. 

Minelab’s unique FBS technology means 

deep, sensitive, accurate detecting. 

Discrimination 

Discrimination is the ability of a metal 

detector to identify the user’s desired 

target (e.g. jewelry) and eliminate 

signals from undesirable material (e.g. 

nails). 

The Explorer SE can be programmed 

in a number of ways to discriminate 

against unwanted targets in different 

types of ground. 

(Discrimination Pattern, pg. 32) 

Ground Compensation 

The Explorer SE uses a sophisticated 

approach to the elimination of ground 

mineralisation. It uses advanced digital 

filtering to eliminate the influence of 

ground signals.

6 Assembly 

7 

Attaching the Coil to the Lower Shaft: 

1 Plug the two rubber washers into the 

holes on either side of the lower shaft. 

2 Feed the coil cable up through the 

inside of the lower shaft. 

3 Place the coil on a flat surface. 

4 Slide the lower shaft into the bracket on 

top of the coil. Ensure that the open side 

of the lower shaft faces the ground. 

5 Insert the bolt through the lower shaft 

and the bracket on top of the coil. 

6 Fasten with the nut provided, being 

careful not to damage the thread of the 

nut by over-tightening. This will need to 

be loosened later to adjust the coil to a 

comfortable detecting angle. 

7 Ensure that the coil cable appears out 

the top of the lower shaft. 

The coil cable is directly wired into the 

coil and is not removable. Any attempt to 

remove this cable will void your warranty. 

Attaching the Lower Shaft to the 

Upper Shaft: 

1 Fully unlock the upper shaft camlock by 

releasing the lever from the shaft. 

2 Feed the coil cable up through the 

inside of the upper shaft. 

3 Ensuring that the camlock side of the 

shaft is facing the ground, slide the 

upper shaft over the lower shaft, so that 

the coil cable appears out the top.

8 Assembly 

9 

Connecting the Shaft Assembly to the 

Handle Assembly: 

1 Fully unlock the control box camlock. 

2 Align and push the coil cable connector 

into the socket underneath the control 

box, firmly tightening the retaining ring 

to secure. 

3 Push the handle assembly onto the 

upper shaft, as far as it will go. 

4 Fully lock the control box camlock by 

pushing the lever flat onto the control 

box. 

(Adjusting the Detector for Comfortable 

Detecting, pg. 12) 

Attaching the Armrest Strap: 

Clip both buckles onto the outer sides 

of the armrest. 

Attaching the Headphones: 

Plug the headphone jack into the 

headphone socket, located in the 

rubber seal at the top of the handle 

assembly. 

The headphones may be plugged or 

unplugged at any stage during detecting. 

Removing the Coil: 

1 Follow the steps of Attaching the lower 

shaft ... and Attaching the coil ... (pg. 6) in 

reverse order to disconnect the coil from 

the detector. 

2 Pull the coil cable out from inside the 

lower shaft. 

Do not attempt to remove the shaft 

assembly without first disconnecting the 

coil cable from the control box. 

A range of accessory coils are available, 

(Accessories, pg. 74)

10 Battery Packs 

11 

The Explorer SE has two types of battery 

packs: 

> One is a sealed rechargeable Nickel 

Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack. 

It comes with a charger which plugs 

into a conventional wall socket. The 

NiMH battery pack is supplied in the 

discharged condition and needs to be 

charged before operating the detector. 

> The other battery pack is a housing 

for 8 ‘AA’ batteries. 

Removing the Battery Pack from the 

Battery Compartment: 

1 Ensure that the detector is turned off 

before removing the battery pack. 

2 Rest the detector on a flat surface. 

3 Lift the rubber seal of the battery 

compartment located at the end 

of the handle assembly. 

4 Raise the yellow tab to release the 

spring loaded battery pack. 

5 Remove the battery pack entirely from 

the battery compartment. 

Do not attempt to disassemble the NiMH 

battery pack. 

If disposing of pack, do not incinerate. 

Contact your local authorities to enquire 

about disposal or recycling facilities. 

The headphone jack must be unplugged 

before lifting the rubber seal. 

Recharging NiMH Battery Pack with 

the Mains Charger: 

1 Remove battery pack. 

2 Insert the mains charger cable into the 

socket at the tapered end of the battery 

pack. 

3 Plug the mains charger into the wall 

socket and turn on the switch. Leave for 

18 hours to fully recharge. New batteries 

will reach their full capacity after several 

charge/ discharge cycles. 

4 Remove the battery charger plug from 

the battery pack. Slide the pack back 

into the battery compartment until it 

clicks into place. 

It is normal for the tip of the rechargeable 

battery to get warm while charging 

because the current regulator is mounted 

inside the battery pack. 

The battery pack will not be damaged if 

left on the charger for more than 18 hours. 

The battery chargers will not recharge 

rechargeable alkaline or NiCad batteries. 

Using a non-Minelab charger with the 

battery pack may damage it and will void 

the product warranty. 

Unlike Nickel Cadmium batteries, the 

NiMH battery pack DOES NOT have to be 

flattened to be recharged. 

Whenever the detector has been unused 

for a lengthy period, recharge the battery 

pack to ensure full performance. 

Replacing ‘AA’ Batteries. 

1 Slide the lid of the battery pack in the 

direction of the arrow to open. 

2 Place 8 x ‘AA’ cell alkaline batteries into 

the battery pack ensuring that the + and 

– are aligned as indicated on the label. 

3 Slide the lid onto the battery pack until 

it ‘clicks’ into place. 

High quality alkaline batteries are 

recommended to optimise detector usage 

time. Rechargeable alkaline, NiMH or 

NiCad batteries may be used but must be 

removed and recharged separately. Check 

fitment of rechargeable batteries prior to 

purchase, as some makes do not comply 

with standard size requirements. 

Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries 

will give a combined voltage above 13 V 

and therefore cannot be used with the 

Explorer SE. 

Do not leave drained AA batteries in the 

detector as they can leak. 

Placing the Battery Pack into the 

Battery Compartment: 

1 Lift the rubber seal of the handle 

assembly. 

2 Place the battery pack entirely into 

the handle assembly, until it clicks into 

place. 

3 Close the rubber seal, to close the 

battery compartment.

12 Adjusting the Detector for 

Comfortable Detecting 

13 

For comfortable, long term detecting, 

it is important that you take the time to 

adjust the detector correctly. 

Holding the Detector: 

Thread your arm through the armrest 

and strap. Grasp the handle of the 

detector and rest your forearm in the 

armrest. 

Adjusting the Position of the Armrest: 

The correct position of the armrest 

should allow you to comfortably grip the 

handle. Your elbow should sit just above 

the back of the armrest and the detector 

should feel like an extension of your 

forearm. 

1 Use a screwdriver or the edge of a coin 

to loosen the screw in the centre of the 

armrest (turn counter-clockwise). 

2 While holding the detector, slide the 

armrest to sit just below your elbow. 

3 Remove your arm. Tighten screw 

(clockwise) to lock the armrest into 

position. 

Adjusting the Armrest Strap: 

1 Loosen strap by tilting the edge of the 

buckle out to release it from the armrest. 

2 Undo the Velcro and pull the buckle 

outwards (towards yourself). Clip the 

buckle back into place and tighten the 

strap to secure. 

Adjusting the Length of the Shafts: 

The correct length of shaft should allow 

you to swing the coil across the ground 

without any uncomfortable stretching 

or stooping. 

If the coil is too far from your body it 

will be more difficult to balance and 

manoeuvre while detecting. 

If the coil is too close to your body it 

may detect your digging tools or any 

other metal which you are carrying, 

causing confusing sounds. 

Adjust the lower shaft to the correct 

length, securing the camlock to hold it 

in place. 

For tall people, a longer lower shaft is 

available, (Accessories, pg. 74) 

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14 Introducing the Control Panel 

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 

15 

SHIFT BUTTONS 

Pressing and releasing a shift button 

next to an icon on the display will 

select this option. 

POWER 

Turns the Explorer SE on/off and when 

held for 2 seconds, restores factory 

presets (pg. 18). 

NOISE CANCEL 

Automatically selects the quietest, 

most stable channel for detecting 

(pg. 56). 

MENU 

Brings up the MAIN MENU at any 

stage of detector operation. This 

allows access to the various settings of 

the detector (pg. 38). 

IRON MASK 

Turns Iron Mask on/off, switching 

between Iron Mask and using 

Discrimination Patterns (pg. 34). 

A black bar on the display above ‘ON’ 

indicates Iron Mask is on. A black bar on 

the display above ‘OFF’ indicates Iron 

Mask is off. 

Iron Mask is a basic Ferrous 

Discrimination. 

PINPOINT 

Turns Pinpoint on / off (pg. 66). 

A black and flashing bar on the LCD 

above ‘ON’ indicates Pinpoint is on. 

A black bar on the LCD above ‘OFF’ 

indicates Pinpoint is off. 

Pinpoint assists in locating the exact 

position of a target prior to recovery. 

BATTERY LIFE 

Indicates the battery charge available 

(pg. 72). 

SHIFT BUTTONS 

Pressing and releasing a shift button 

next to an icon on the display will 

select this option. 

BACKLIGHT 

The backlight provides greater screen 

clarity in dim conditions. Even if it is 

switched off, the backlight illuminates 

for 1 second as the detector is 

switched on. Turning this light off will 

extend battery life. Contrast of the 

LCD can be adjusted (pg. 55). 

To turn the backlight on/off: 

Press the BACKLIGHT button. 

DETECT 

Returns to the detect display 

(Smartfind / Digital) at any stage of 

operation, allowing you to continue 

detecting. When in the detect display, 

pressing DETECT will switch between 

Smartfind and Digital (pg. 31). 

BACK 

‘Retraces’ your steps back through the 

displays. This is useful to alter the last 

adjusted setting. The BACK button 

will retrace the last 3 steps (pg. 38).

16 Introducing the Smartfind 

Detect Screen 

Help Function 

17 

When you first turn on the Explorer SE, 

the Smartfind display will appear and 

you are able to begin detecting. 

Sensitivity Bar 

(pg. 22) 

Increase 

Sensitivity 

Arrow 

Semi-Automatic 

Sensitivity 

Mode Indicator 

Sensitivity 

Value 

Decrease 

Sensitivity 

Arrow 

Depth Indicator 

(pg. 23) 

Iron Mask On/Off 

Indicator (pg. 35) 

Smartfind Discrimination 

Pattern (pg. 28) 

Pinpoint On/Off 

Indicator (pg. 66) 

Battery Life 

(pg. 72) 

Threshold Bar 

(pg. 24) 

Increase 

Threshold 

Arrow 

Full Screen Icon 

(pg. 26) 

Decrease 

Threshold Arrow 

Pressing and holding down the shift 

buttons next to a menu item or pressing 

and holding any other button for 

approximately one second will display 

a Help screen describing this particular 

function and various other menu 

options available.

18 Turning the 

Detector On 

Detecting Basics 

19 

The POWER button turns the detector 

on and off. 

The Explorer SE has factory preset 

settings that have been chosen to suit 

first-time detectorists. The detector will 

respond to some targets (low-ferrous 

metal objects such as silver coins and 

jewelry) and ignore others (high-ferrous 

objects such as nails). 

It is best to only turn the detector on 

when outdoors, away from sources of 

electromagnetic disturbance such as 

power lines and phone towers. These 

sources may cause the detector to 

perform erratically, giving numerous 

false signals. 

There are also many metallic objects 

inside a house such as nails in the floor, 

reinforcing in the walls, televisions and 

other household appliances that might 

overload the electronics of the detector. 

Press and hold 

Press and Release 

To turn the detector on with Factory 

Preset settings: 

Press and hold POWER for 2 seconds. 

‘FACTORY PRESETS’ will appear briefly on 

the start-up display. 

Turning the detector on with factory 

presets will restore all settings and the 

Discrimination Pattern. 

To turn the detector on with the 

previous settings: 

Press and release POWER. This will start 

the detector with the previous display 

and settings from when the detector was 

last used (eg. Sensitivity, Volume, etc.) 

During the start up display, a four-note 

tune will sound. 

Sometimes it is possible that a large object close 

to the coil will overload the detector’s electronics. 

When this happens, the Explorer SE emits a low 

‘warble’ which will repeat until the coil is moved 

away from the source of the overload. 

Overloading is not harmful to 

the electronics of the detector. 

Targets 

Buried metal objects are referred to as 

targets. Targets are comprised of ferrous 

and non-ferrous metals. High-ferrous 

metals are those that contain iron such 

as steel, nails and some types of coins. 

Low-ferrous metals are those that have 

no iron content, such as gold, silver, 

copper, bronze and aluminium. 

You may wish to find a range of both 

low and high ferrous targets. 

Examples of common targets: 

Desired high-ferrous target - Canadian coin 

Undesired high- ferrous target - iron nail 

Desired low-ferrous target - gold coin 

Undesired low-ferrous target - pull-tab 

Sweeping the Coil 

The Explorer SE will perform at its best 

when the coil is kept close and parallel 

to the ground at all times. This will 

increase detection depth and response 

to small objects. Avoid excessive 

brushing of the coil on the ground, 

as this may result in false signals and 

inaccurate Target ID’s. 

Practise sweeping the coil over the 

ground in a side-to-side motion, while 

walking forward slowly at the end 

of each sweep. Slightly overlap the 

previous sweep to ensure full ground 

coverage. An average sweep speed is 

four seconds from left to right to left. 

A variation in coil height at the end of 

each swing may also cause confusing 

sounds and reduce detection depth.

20 A Simple Detecting 

Exercise 

Detector Sounds 

21 

Before attempting to recover real 

targets, it is important to understand 

how to interpret the audio and visual 

signals of the detector. 

Gather a collection of different metal 

objects, e.g. various coins, gold and 

silver jewelry, a nail, pull-tab, brass 

button and aluminium foil. 

Take the detector outdoors, away from 

known electro-magnetic fields or metal 

objects. 

If you are getting signals from a clear 

patch of ground, there could be buried 

metal objects. Try finding another area. 

Lay objects in a line, sufficiently spaced 

apart to allow the coil to pass between 

them, as shown. 

Turn the detector on. 

The Threshold is the background ‘hum’ 

produced by the detector. It assists in 

hearing very small and deep targets. It 

is also used to help distinguish between 

desired and undesired targets (blanking). 

The detector may also produce False 

Signals (Noise) when not over the ground 

(i.e. with the coil motionless). These may 

not be target signals, but signals caused 

from the surrounding environment. 

You can overcome these false signals by 

performing a Noise Cancel, or by reducing 

the Sensitivity of the detector (Noise 

Cancel, pg. 56, Sensitivity, pg. 22). 

Sweep the coil across the objects, one at a 

time, and observe the LCD and the sounds 

of the detector as it detects each object. 

The Target Response is the sound 

given by the detector when a target 

is located and not discriminated 

(rejected). A target that is highly 

conductive (e.g. a large silver coin) 

will generally produce a high-pitched 

tone and a low conductive target 

(e.g. foil) generally produces a lower 

pitched tone. Large targets or targets 

close to the ground surface emit a 

louder signal (Sounds, pg. 64). 

Threshold 

Threshold 

Target Response 

‘Blanking’ (No Sound) 

When a rejected target is detected, 

the Threshold ‘blanks’ (becomes 

silent) indicating that a target is 

located underneath the coil, but has 

been rejected by you. Blanking is a 

useful way of distinguishing between 

desired and undesired targets. 

Take note that as the coil is passed 

over the nail, the Threshold ‘hum’ 

momentarily disappears, indicating 

that the object ignored was ferrous.

22 Sensitivity 

Depth 

23 

Sensitivity is the detector’s level of 

response to its environment and to 

targets. Sensitivity can be only be 

adjusted in Smartfind and Digital Display. 

The Sensitivity bar is a visual indication of 

the Sensitivity setting. 

Sensitivity can be adjusted in both the 

Semi-automatic mode or Manual mode. 

In Semi-Automatic Sensitivity mode, 

the detector continuously monitors the 

environmental conditions and will adjust 

the Sensitivity as close as possible to your 

specified level of Sensitivity. 

In Manual Sensitivity mode the 

adjustment allows you to control the 

Sensitivity directly. This is recommended 

for high trash areas when best results 

are obtained by sweeping the coil very 

slowly. Manual Sensitivity is suitable 

for the beach and very quiet/stable 

(unmineralised) ground, where the 

ground conditions do not change as 

often. 

Modes: Semi-Automatic, Manual 

Range: 1 to 32 

Factory Preset: Semi-Automatic, 22 

Maximum setting (32) 

Current Sensitivity level (e.g. 22) 

Minimum setting (1). 

To adjust Sensitivity: 

Press the top-left shift button to increase 

Sensitivity. 

Press the bottom-left shift button to 

decrease Sensitivity. 

To switch from Semi-Automatic to 

Manual Sensitivity: 

Press the center-left shift button. A line will 

cycle around the number to indicate that 

Semi-Automatic Sensitivity is activated. 

The detector with a high Sensitivity setting 

will detect deep targets but may respond 

to unwanted noise and ground signals. A 

high Sensitivity setting is recommended 

for stable conditions with low interference. 

The detector with a low Sensitivity setting 

will ignore unwanted noise and ground 

signals, but may miss deep targets. A lower 

Sensitivity setting is preferable for very 

variable, ‘noisy’ conditions or high trash 

areas. 

Try reducing interference before 

reducing Sensitivity. Press the NOISE 

CANCEL shortcut button, or manually 

select the least noisy channel (pg. 56). 

The clear portion of the depth indicator 

represents the approximate distance of 

a target below the coil. 

The top of the indicator represents the 

position of the coil and the bottom 

represents 300mm (12 inches) from the 

coil. The bar will be clear if the target 

is deeper than 12 inches or its depth 

cannot be accurately gauged. 

Try to think of the clear area of the depth 

indicator as the amount of soil you will 

you have to dig to recover the target. 

The depth indicator is also 

updated for rejected targets. 

300mm 

eg. 120mm

24 Threshold 

25 

Maximum setting (40) 

Current setting (e.g. 13) 

Minimum setting (0) 

Threshold is the constant background 

‘hum’ produced by the detector. 

This control sets the Threshold Volume. 

By setting the Threshold Volume to the 

correct level for your hearing, Threshold 

can highlight the variations in signal 

response which often indicate detection 

of a target. 

The volume of the Threshold is a 

personal preference. The correct level 

will depend on your hearing and 

associated noise such as wind and 

machinery. 

If the Threshold Volume is high, 

accepted targets will be harder to 

distinguish above the Threshold ‘hum’. 

Small target responses will become 

difficult to discern as Threshold nears a 

maximum setting of 40 when there will 

be a persistently loud Threshold ‘hum’. 


Factory Preset: 16 

If the Threshold Volume is too low, the 

slight variation caused by a small or 

deep target may not be sufficient to 

hear. Adjusting the level to below an 

audible level will ensure silent operation 

but could mask the audio response to 

small targets. 

The factory preset Threshold of 16 

will usually emit a constant Threshold 

hum and is programmed to enable an 

audible response to most target signals. 

Since everyone’s hearing is different, so 

Minelab suggests that you set a level 

of Threshold that is a very low, but still 

audible level for hearing. 

Threshold also helps you distinguish 

the difference between accepted and 

rejected targets. When a rejected 

target is detected, the Threshold sound 

‘blanks’ (becomes silent) to indicate that 

a rejected target is underneath the coil. 

Adjusting Threshold: 

Threshold is increased by pressing 

the top shift button and decreased by 

pressing the bottom shift button on the 

right side of the control panel. 

A number corresponding to the 

Threshold level will appear temporarily 

between the two adjustment arrows. 

Target 

Volume 

Threshold 

= 0 

Audible Target Response 

Inaudible 

Target #1 

Target #2 

If the Threshold is set to 0, small target 

signals will not produce a signal big enough 

to go above the Audible Level. 

Try experimenting with known targets to 

assist in setting Threshold. 

The Threshold may need to be adjusted 

when connecting and disconnecting the 

headphones. 

Target 

Volume 

Threshold 

= 14 


Target #1 

Target #2 

Audible Level Audible Level 

If the Threshold is set to a positive value, 

the detector will produce target signals 

and a Threshold sound.

26 Full Screen Display 

27 

The Smartfind or Digital display 

may be enlarged during detecting. 

The Full Screen Display enlarges the 

Discrimination Pattern details and 

removes the display border and other 

screen elements. 

The detection results information will be 

cleared as you switch between Normal 

to Full Screen, until a new detection is 

made. 

To switch between Normal and Full Screen: 

Press the shift button next to the full screen 

icon at the right of the control panel. 

These bars line up with the text on the control panel, 

indicating whether Iron Mask and Pinpoint are on or off.

28 Smartfind Display 

29 

Size/Conductivity 

high 

low 

Smartfind is Minelab’s unique two 

dimensional scale of discrimination. 

The Explorer SE rates detected objects 

according to their conductivity (like 

most traditional detectors). What makes 

two dimensional discrimination unique 

is that the object’s ferrous content 

is also rated. Smartfind graphically 

represents both of these target 

properties on the same display. 

high Ferrous Content low 

Factory Preset Pattern: Coins 

Crosshair 

representing a 

target signal 

The vertical dimension (or axis) rates the 

object on size/conductivity. 

The horizontal dimension (or axis) rates 

the extent of the object’s resemblance 

to ferrous characteristics. 

As the coil is passed over a target, the 

detector digitally processes the target 

signal and displays this as a Crosshair on 

the Smartfind window. The position of 

the Crosshair on the LCD is related to its 

conductive and ferrous properties. 

High-ferrous target Low-ferrous target High-conductivity, 

low-ferrous target 

High-ferrous targets contain a large 

amount of iron (e.g. nails). A highferrous 

target is often magnetic and will 

generally display the Crosshair on the 

left side of the Smartfind window. 

Low-ferrous targets have little or no 

iron content, such as pure gold, silver, 

copper and bronze. Low-ferrous targets 

will generally appear on the right side of 

the Smartfind window. 

Low-conductivity, 

high-ferrous target 

High-conductivity targets (e.g. large 

silver coins, copper items) will cause the 

Target Crosshair to appear at the top of 

the Smartfind screen. 

Low-conductivity targets (e.g. small 

alloy coins, foil, 9ct and fine jewelry) will 

cause the Target Crosshair to appear at 

the bottom of the Smartfind screen. 

The size of objects will have some effect 

on the conductivity rating for targets. 

Generally, the larger the target, the 

higher the corresponding conductivity 

rating (and proximity of the Target 

Crosshair to the top of the screen).

30 Digital Display 

31 

Ferrous Content Size/Conductivity 

The Explorer SE has an alternative 

Digital display that shows both 

the ferrous content (FER) and the 

conductivity (COND) of a target with 

numbers from 0 to 31. 

The FER and COND numbers are the 

coordinates of the Target Crosshair 

displayed in Smartfind. 

A FER value of 0 represents low-ferrous 

content and a value of 31 represents 

high ferrous content. Similarly, a COND 

value of 0 represents low conductivity 

and 31 represents high conductivity. 

It is important to note that when using 

Digital, discrimination settings (either 

the current Discrimination Pattern 

or the Iron Mask) are still active and 

targets outside the accepted area will 

not produce a signal or indicate FER and 

COND numbers on the display. 

31 

0 Size/Conductivity 

The conductivity and ferrous 

information of the target will clear as 

you switch between Smartfind and 

Digital, until a new detection is made. 

31 Ferrous Content 

The last used display will appear the 

next time you turn on the detector. Any 

adjustments to Discrimination Patterns 

that are made in Smartfind will be 

retained and used in Digital. 

While detecting a target, try switching 

from Smartfind to Digital, to compare 

the results. In time, you may prefer to use 

different displays for different conditions. 

0 

To switch between Smartfind and 

Digital displays: 

Press DETECT.

32 Discrimination Pattern 

Changing Discrimination Patterns 33 

Rejected Targets Accepted Targets 

Discrimination is the detector’s ability to 

eliminate signals from undesired targets 

and accept signals from desired targets. 

Each coordinate of the Smartfind 

window can be turned white or black 

to accept or reject certain targets, 

respectively. 

White (clear) pixels indicate that those 

particular targets are accepted. Black 

pixels indicate that those particular 

target signals are rejected. 

The combination of rejected and 

accepted pixels is referred to as a 

‘Discrimination Pattern’. 

The Pattern shown above is the default 

Discrimination Pattern of the Explorer 

SE. It accepts signals from non-ferrous 

coins and rejects signals from most 

high-ferrous targets. 

When an accepted target is detected 

(matching the conductive and ferrous 

characteristics of coins), the Target 

Crosshair will appear in the white (clear) 

area of pixels and a target response will 

sound. 

When a rejected target is detected (not 

matching the conductive and ferrous 

characteristics of coins), the Threshold 

will blank and the Target Crosshair 

will remain in the position of the last 

accepted target. 

Explorer SE offers a range of 

Discrimination Patterns which may be 

used on their own or in combination. 

(Select, pg. 40) 

The default Discrimination Pattern 

represents the typical characteristics 

of non-ferrous coins, a composite of 

hundreds of coins from around the world. 

The Explorer SE has four different ways of 

changing the Discrimination Pattern to 

find only the types of targets you want: 

Reduce or increase the amount of ferrous 

signals with Iron Mask (pg. 34). 

Use a target that you have previously 

found to create a Discrimination Pattern 

with the LEARN feature (pg. 44). 

Select from a preset list of Discrimination 

Patterns that correspond to common 

desired and undesired targets (pg. 40). 

Manually Edit areas of the Discrimination 

Pattern (pg. 50).

34 

Iron Mask - Setting the 

Level of Ferrous Rejection 

AM 31 22 0 

Iron Mask allows you to change the 

Discrimination Pattern by adjusting 

the level of ferrous rejection. Iron Mask 

can be turned on or off (switching back 

to Smartfind or Digital). The Iron Mask 

screen displays the Discrimination 

Pattern (similar to the Smartfind) and 

a slider control to adjust the level of 

ferrous discrimination. The level of 

ferrous discrimination can be adjusted 

using the shift buttons next to the slider 

control. 

Range: All Metal, 0 to 31 


To accept more high-ferrous objects 

(e.g. war relics): 

Reduce the level of ferrous rejection by 

pressing the bottom left shift button 

next to the slider control. You will notice 

that the number increases because the 

Iron Mask level refers to the horizontal 

ferrous scale ranging from 31 to 0. You 

may need to experiment a little with the 

settings. 

To reject more high-ferrous objects: 

Set the level of ferrous rejection to 

16. This is represented by the mask 

extending to half way across the 

Smartfind screen (pg. 28). 

Once adjusted, you can continue 

detecting in the Iron Mask adjustment 

screen, as accepted targets will still 

appear as a Crosshair in the clear area of 

the window. 

Or you can choose to continue 

detecting in Smartfind with Iron Mask 

ON. The Smartfind window will adopt 

the new Iron Mask Pattern. 

The IRON MASK shortcut button turns 

Iron Mask ON / OFF, switching between 

three screens: 

> Iron Mask ON - adjustment screen, 

> Iron Mask ON - Smartfind or Digital, 

> Smartfind or Digital (Iron Mask OFF). 

The Factory Preset of 22 is suitable for 

rejecting most high-ferrous junk targets 

Iron Mask 

To turn Iron Mask ON 

(Adjust Iron Mask): 

Press the IRON MASK shortcut button. 

Press the bottom shift buttons next to 

the slider control to adjust the level of 

Iron Mask. 

To detect with Iron Mask ON 

(Smartfind or Digital): 


The bar at the bottom of the Smartfind 

screen will indicate that Iron Mask is ON. 

To turn Iron Mask OFF 

(and return to detecting in 

Smartfind or Digital): 


The bar at the bottom of the Smartfind / 

Digital screen will indicate that Iron Mask 

is OFF. 

To reject a target using Iron Mask: 

1 Create an All Metal Pattern (or recall it 

from the SAVE DISCRIM screen). 

2 Switch to Digital display. 

3 Detect a target and take note of its 

FER value. 

4 Set the Iron Mask to that FER value. 

The target will now be rejected. 

35

36 All Metal - Accepting All Targets 

37 

All Metal is the term used to describe a 

clear Discrimination Pattern, a Pattern 

that accepts all target signals, hence 

accepting all metals. 

An All Metal Pattern can be created in 

two ways: 

1 To create an All Metal Pattern in the 

Iron Mask Adjustment screen: 

Press the shift button to reduce Iron 

Mask and clear the Discrimination 

Pattern. ’AM’ will appear in the box. 

2 To create an All Metal Pattern in the 

SELECT screen: 

1 Access the SELECT screen: 

MENU > SELECT 

2 Press the shift button next to 

the CLEAR option. This clears the 

Discrimination Pattern thumbnail, 

creating a Pattern that will accept 

all metals. 

To save the All Metal Pattern: 

1 Access the SAVE DISCRIM screen: 

MENU > SAVE DISC 

2 Press the shift button corresponding 

to the location you want to save it to 

(e.g. S2). 

The All Metal Pattern can then be 

recalled from the Select List in the 

SELECT screen.

38 Menu Structure All detector settings (except Sensitivity 

and Threshold) are located in the menu. 

The menu can be accessed at any time 

during detecting. 

39 

(pg. 44) 

(pg. 50) 

1 Press MENU. 

2 Press the shift button next to the menu 

option to select it. 

(pg. 40) 

(pg. 43, 48, 53) 

(pg. 70) 

(pg. 62) 

(pg. 58) 

(pg. 60) 

(pg. 64) 

(pg. 56) 

(pg. 54) 

(pg. 55)

MAIN MENU > SELECT 

40 SELECT - Preset 

Discrimination Patterns 

41 

Discrimination Pattern 

Thumbnail 

Shows the Pattern that is the 

result of your accepted or 

rejected Discrimination Patterns 

from the Select List. 

Navigation 

Arrows 

Indicate which 

direction the 

Select List can 

be scrolled. 

Target Icon 

Indicates the selected 


Range: 8 Preset Patterns, 

6 Custom Saved Patterns 

Factory Preset Pattern: Coins 

Select List 

Lists Discrimination Patterns 

for common targets. CLEAR 

is provided to clear the 


The Reject Icon (cross) 

inverses the Discrimination 

Pattern, rejecting that target 

type from the Discrimination 

Pattern Thumbnail. 

Accept Icon 

A tick indicates that 

the Discrimination 

Pattern for this 

target is accepted. 

Reject Icon 

A cross indicates 

that the 


Pattern for this 

target is rejected. 

clears the Discrimination 

Pattern Thumbnail 

low-ferrous coins 

high-ferrous coins 

rings, bracelets, necklaces 

aluminium foil 

aluminium ring from can 

crown seal bottle cap 

screw-on bottle cap 

nails, screws, shards of rust 

custom saved 

patterns 

The SELECT screen lists eight types 

of targets (Discrimination Patterns) 

typically encountered during treasure 

hunting and six spaces where custom 

saved patterns can be retrieved. 

Each Discrimination Pattern in the 

Select List is designed to accept the 

corresponding target type. 

By accepting the Discrimination 

Pattern , you are modifying the 

Discrimination Pattern Thumbnail to 

accept that target type. 

By rejecting the Discrimination 

Pattern , you are modifying the 

Discrimination Pattern Thumbnail to 

reject that target type. 

A number of the Discrimination Patterns 

from the Select List can be accepted 

and rejected at the same time, creating 

a custom Pattern that can be saved for 

future use. 

If the SELECT screen is accessed while the 

Explorer SE is functioning in Iron Mask, the 

current Iron Mask Pattern will be displayed 

in the Discrimination Pattern Thumbnail. 

As soon as a selection is made from the 

Select List, a thumbnail of the chosen 

Discrimination Pattern will replace the 

Iron Mask, and Iron Mask indicator will 

be automatically switched to the OFF 

position when you return to the Smartfind 

screen.

MAIN MENU > SELECT 

42 SELECT - Selecting Preset 

SELECT - Saving 

43 



A number of Discrimination Patterns can 

be accepted and rejected at one time, 

creating a custom Pattern that can be 

saved for future use. 

To scroll up or down the Select List: 

Press the shift buttons next to the up/ 

down arrows. 

To clear the Discrimination Pattern 

Thumbnail (create an All Metal 

Pattern): 

Press the shift button next to the CLEAR 

option. 

To accept the Discrimination Pattern: 

Press the shift button next to the 

Discrimination Pattern once to display 

a tick. 

To reject the Discrimination Pattern: 


Discrimination Pattern until a cross is 

displayed. 

Press the DETECT shortcut button to 

continue detecting in Smartfind / Digital 

with your new Discrimination Pattern. 

Rejecting a target inverses the Pattern 

Once a new Discrimination Pattern has 

been created, it can be saved in one of 

six places in the SAVE DISCRIM screen. 

To save the new Discrimination 

Pattern into the SAVE DISCRIM menu: 


location where you want it to be saved. 

The Discrimination Pattern can now be 

retrieved from the list of Discrimination 

Patterns in the SELECT menu screen. 

Saved Patterns are not erased when 

factory preset settings are restored. 

Be sure to save your new Discrimination 

Pattern, otherwise all changes will be lost 

once the detector is turned off.

MAIN MENU > DISCRIM > LEARN 

44 Learn - Creating a Discrimination 

Pattern with a Specific Target 

45 

Accept Target Icon 

Modifies Discrimination 

Pattern to accept 

a specific item when 

icon is flashing. 

Reject Target Icon 

Modifies 


Pattern to reject a 

specific item when 

icon is flashing. 

Resize Cursor 

This allows you to 

manually increase or 

decrease the size of 

the area modified on 

the screen by LEARN’s 

response to a target. 


The black and clear 

areas of the screen 

schematically represent 

the current target 


Accept All / Reject All 

Allows you to switch between 

clearing or filling the whole 

Pattern in preparation for 

rejecting or accepting learnt 

targets. 

Volume Icon 

This shortcut icon takes 

you to the VOLUME 

section of the AUDIO 

menu where you can 

adjust various Volume 

characteristics. 

Save Icon 

This shortcut icon leads to the 

SAVE DISCRIM menu where 

the current Discrimination 

Pattern can be saved. 

You may wish to instruct the Explorer 

SE to detect targets with very specific 

characteristics. It may be that you have 

found a particular type of coin which 

you would like to find more of, or you 

find yourself constantly unearthing the 

same types of junk. 

The LEARN option instructs the Explorer 

SE to accept or reject precisely the types 

of targets you do or do not want. 

Once saved, your new Discrimination 

Patterns can be used by themselves 

or in combination with other 

Discrimination Patterns in the SELECT 

screen (pg. 42). 

In time, you may find LEARN one of the 

Explorer SE’s most powerful features. 

For instance, once you have saved 

Discrimination Patterns that accept 

several unwanted targets, you may 

exclude them all from your current 

Discrimination Pattern, simply by 

rejecting them from the Select List in 

the SELECT screen. 

In a similar way, you could combine all 

of your desired targets into your own 

composite Discrimination Pattern. 

For the LEARN option to work accurately, 

it needs to recognize the same target 

characteristics with each pass of the coil. 

Check that there are no other targets in 

the ground where you will be learning 

the target. Move away from other 

detectorists or powerlines. 

Check for interference (erratic noises 

and random movements of the 

Target Crosshair). If you experience 

interference, press NOISE CANCEL, 

reduce the Sensitivity, or move the 

detector to a different area. 

It may be useful to perform a Noise 

Cancel before learning a target.


46 Learn - Accepting a Target 

Learn - Rejecting a Target 

47 

tick icon will flash 

To create a Discrimination Pattern that 

accepts a target: 

Fill in the Smartfind window: 

Press the shift button next to the Reject All/ 

Accept All icon. This fills in the Smartfind 

window, rejecting all targets and prepares 

the window for learning the 

new target. 

Change the size of the cursor: 

Press the lower left hand shift button to 

change the cursor size (small, medium 

or large). The size of the cursor sets 

how ‘loosely’ the targets ferrous and 

conductivity characteristics are recorded. 

A large cursor will recognise a wider area 

of Pattern as that target, a small cursor 

will give a ‘tighter’ Pattern but may cause 

slightly altered or damaged targets to be 

ignored. 

Learn (accept) the target: 

1 Place the target on the ground. 

2 Press the upper left shift button next to the 

tick (accept) icon. The tick icon will begin 

to flash, indicating that the next detected 

target will clear an area of pixels, creating 

a Discrimination Pattern that accepts that 

detected target. 

3 Wave the coil several times above the 

desired target until the detector learns it by 

clearing an area in the Smartfind window. 

The Explorer SE needs to detect the target 

consistently to accept it in the Smartfind 

window. If you have more than one target, 

repeat the procedure for each one. 

4 Press the shift button next to the flashing 

tick to disable the LEARN option. 



once the detector is turned off (pg. 48). 

reject icon will flash 

reject icon will flash 

To create a Discrimination Pattern that 

rejects a target: 

Clear the Smartfind window: 

Press the shift button next to the Reject 

All/Accept All icon. This clears the 

Smartfind window, accepting all targets 

and preparing the window for learning 

the new target. 

Change the size of the cursor: 

Press the lower left hand shift button to 

change the cursor size (small, medium 

or large). The size of the cursor sets how 

‘loosely’ the target is matched for each 

successive pass of the coil. 

Learn (reject) the target: 

1 Place the target on the ground. 

2 Press the upper left shift button next 

to the cross (reject) icon. The cross icon 

will begin to flash, indicating that the 

next detected target will fill in an area 

of pixels, creating a Discrimination 

Pattern that rejects that detected 

target. 

3 Wave the coil several times above the 

desired target until the detector learns 

it by filling in an area in the Smartfind 

window. The Explorer SE needs to 

detect the target consistently to reject 

it in the Smartfind window. If you 

have more than one target, repeat the 

procedure for each one. 

4 Press the shift button next to the 

flashing cross to disable the LEARN 

option. 



once the detector is turned off (pg. 48).


48 LEARN - Saving 


49 

To save the Discrimination Pattern: 

1 Press the shift button next to the Save 

icon to go directly to the SAVE DISCRIM 

menu. 


location you want to save it to (e.g. 

S2). The learnt Discrimination Pattern 

can now be retrieved from the list of 


screen. 

3 Press DETECT to navigate to the EDIT 

screen where the Discrimination Pattern 

can be further edited in detail if required 

(pg. 49), or press DETECT again to return 

to Smartfind / Digital. 





once the detector is turned off. 

The DETECT button will navigate through the 

Learn, Edit, Smartfind and Digital screens, 

then switch between Smartfind and Digital.

MAIN MENU > DISCRIM > EDIT 

50 EDIT - Editing 


51 

Target Frame Size 

This allows you to select the 

size of the framed area you 

wish to accept or reject from 

the displayed Discrimination 

Pattern. There is a choice of 

three sizes. 

Accept or Reject 

Framed Area 

Instructs Explorer SE to 

accept the framed area 

on selection of the tick 

icon. Selection of the 

cross icon will reject the 

framed area. This edits 

the current Pattern. 


The shaded and unshaded 

areas of the screen 

schematically represent the 

current Discrimination Pattern. 

Horizontal Navigation 

Pressing the shift buttons 

adjacent to these arrows 

moves the target frame 

to the left or right of the 

screen. 

Target Frame 

Any area of the screen 

enclosed by this frame 

may be excluded from 

or become part of your 

preferred target Pattern. 

Vertical Navigation 

Pressing the shift buttons 

next to these arrows 

moves the target frame 

up or down the screen. 

EDIT enables you to make manual 

changes to individual areas (specific 

pixels) of the Discrimination Pattern. 

LEARN may not provide the exact 

discrimination result you wanted (even 

when using a different-sized cursor). 

Rather than start all over again, you 

can just ‘touch up’ your learn results. 

Similarly, you may find that the 

Discrimination Pattern for a specific 

target type (e.g. foil) may need to be 

modified to suit your requirements. 

Make sure Pinpoint is OFF before using 

EDIT to customize your Discrimination 

Pattern.

MAIN MENU > DISCRIM > EDIT 

52 EDIT - Editing 

EDIT - Saving 

53 



Select the Discrimination Pattern that 

you would like to edit (Select, pg. 40, 

Learn pg. 44). 

To change the size of the target 

frame: 

Press the top left shift button to switch 

between three target frame sizes. 

To move the target frame: 

Press the shift buttons next to the 

navigation arrows. Position the resized 

frame over the screen section you wish 

to edit. 

To reject the framed area: 

Press the center left shift button once. 

You will note that a cross appears 

next to the button and the area of 

screen within the target frame has 

turned black. You can now move the 

target frame in any direction using 

the horizontal and vertical navigation 

arrows. 

To accept the framed area: 

Press the center left shift button until 

a tick appears next to the button. This 

instructs the Explorer SE to clear the 

framed area. 

Be sure to save your new 

Discrimination Pattern, otherwise all 

changes will be lost once the detector 

is turned off. 

To save the edited Discrimination 

Pattern: 

1 Press the MENU shortcut button and 

select SAVE DISC from the menu. 


location you want to save it to (e.g. 

S2). The edited Discrimination Pattern 

can now be retrieved from the list of 


menu screen. 





once the detector is turned off.

MAIN MENU > OPTIONS > RECOVERY Range: FAST, DEEP 

Factory Presets: FAST=OFF, DEEP=OFF 

54 RECOVERY - 

Enhancing Explorer SE Performance 

CONTRAST 

55 

RECOVERY allows you to select the 

way the discrimination process works. 

RECOVERY settings affect both the 

detector’s audio and display response to 

target characteristics. 

FAST 

By selecting this setting, the detector 

will react faster to the signals received, 

but the discrimination and target ID 

may be slightly less accurate. Use FAST 

in areas littered with objects, where a 

desired target could be hiding next to 

unwanted objects. 

DEEP 

This setting affects only weak target 

signals and enhances them to allow 

identification of deep targets. This 

setting should be selected in relatively 

uncluttered areas where deep targets 

are anticipated. Strong signals are 

unaffected. 

Best compromise 

of depth, audio 

response, 

Target ID and 

discrimination for 

normal detecting 

conditions. 

Better audio 

response in 

‘trashy’ areas 

at the expense 

of target ID and 

discrimination 

accuracy. 

In the DEEP setting there will be a 

slightly slower reaction in target signal 

and target ID due to the more detailed 

processing of the target characteristics. 

To select a RECOVERY setting: 

1. Press the shift button next to the 

desired RECOVERY setting. 

2. Press DETECT to return to Smartfind/ 

Digital and continue detecting. 

Improved audio 

response for 

weak signals, 

in less cluttered 

environments. 

Less accurate 

discrimination and 

Target ID; amplified 

signals for small 

targets, response 

time is similar 

to DEEP=OFF, 

FAST=OFF. 

MAIN MENU > OPTIONS > CONTRAST 

The LCD may be hard to see in bright 

or overcast conditions. 

To adjust LCD Contrast: 

Press the shift buttons next to the 

arrows of the slider control to adjust 

the contrast of the LCD. 

Press DETECT to return to Smartfind 

and continue detecting. 


Factory Presets: 5

MAIN MENU > OPTIONS > NOISE 


Factory Presets: 5 

56 NOISE CANCEL - Reducing 

Electrical Interference 

57 

The detector may become noisy 

due to electrical interference from 

powerlines, electrical equipment or 

other detectors operating close by. The 

detector interprets this interference as 

inconsistent, short beeps, and erratic 

movement of the Target Crosshair 

on the Smartfind display, or erratic 

changing of FER COND numbers in the 

Digital display. 

The Noise Cancel channel can 

be changed so that the detector 

experiences the least interference for 

the current environment. The channel 

can be changed automatically by the 

NOISE CANCEL shortcut button, or 

manually in the NOISE CANCEL screen 

via the menu. 

The NOISE CANCEL button instructs 

the detector to automatically listen to 

every channel and select the quietest 

channel. Automatic Noise Cancel may 

take up to 30 seconds. 

The NOISE CANCEL screen, accessed via 

the menu, allows you to manually select 

and listen to every channel for the least 

interference. 

Once a channel is selected, most 

audio responses to electromagnetic 

disturbances (e.g. powerlines) will be 

eliminated. 

Noise Cancel is handy for metal 

detecting competitions when several 

Explorer SEs are working close to 

one another. Each detector can be 

set to operate on a different channel 

so interference between detectors is 

eliminated. In this case it is best to select 

the channels manually. 

If you would like to know what channel 

has been chosen after an automatic 

Noise Cancel, access the NOISE CANCEL 

screen and check the channel displayed. 

It is best to select a channel with the coil 

in the detection position, 30cm away 

from the ground and as still as possible. 

This gives the detector the best chance 

of hearing all surrounding interference 

(not from the ground or targets) and 

selecting the quietest channel. 

It may be useful to switch to Manual 

Sensitivity from the Smartfind or 

Digital screen before attempting to 

The number associated with Noise 

Cancel does not denote an increase or 

decrease in power. It is simply a channel 

number which can be remembered. 

If you perform an Auto Noise Cancel 

while in the NOISE CANCEL screen, you 

will have to exit and return to the screen 

for the new channel to be displayed. 

To automatically select a 

Noise Cancel channel: 

1 Hold the detector 30cm above the 

ground, making sure there are no 

large targets or obvious electrical 

interferences close by. 

2 Press the NOISE CANCEL button. 

Keep the detector completely 

still during the automatic channel 

selection. This may take up to 30 

seconds. 

The detector will select the quietest 

operating channel. 

To manually select a 

Noise Cancel channel: 

1 Hold the detector 30cm above the 

ground, making sure there are no 

large targets or obvious electrical 

interferences close by. 

2 Access the NOISE CANCEL screen via 

the menu. 

3 Use the shift buttons next to the 

adjustment arrows to select a channel 

listening for interference (or ‘noise’). 

Adjust the detector to a new channel 

and listen again. Listen to each 

channel and select the one with the 

least amount of noise. 

perform Noise Cancel. �� 

��

58 VOLUME 

59 

Volume is the level of sound emitted by 

the detector when a target is detected. 

A high Volume will give a great 

difference between a small and large 

target, but may be dangerous to your 

hearing if a large target is found. 

The Explorer SE is factory preset at 

maximum Volume. This is usually 

appropriate with either the detector’s 

built-in speaker or headphones. If the 

Volume is too loud in the headphones, 

use the Volume control. 

Headphones allow you to discern subtle 

variations in audio response and lessen 

exposure to adverse conditions (i.e. 

wind) which may distort sound from 

the speaker. Headphones also minimize 

disturbance from your treasure hunting 

for other people in the area. 

Lower Volume settings and using 

headphones will extend battery life. 

Max Limit 

MAIN MENU > AUDIO > VOLUME Range: 0 to 10 



Target #1 

Target #2 

MAX LIMIT 

The MAX LIMIT is the overriding Volume. 

It sets the maximum Volume of target 

signals. 

The sound produced by a distant target 

starts softly. As you get closer, the 

Volume level increases rapidly until it 

reaches the maximum level that has 

been set. 

To adjust the MAX LIMIT: 

Press the shift buttons next to the MAX 

LIMIT slider control. 

Max Limit 


Target #1 

Target #2 

Threshold Threshold 

When Volume and Threshold settings are used together, 

there is a greater control over target audio response. 

Sound Loudness 



GAIN 

This controls the amplification of target 

audio responses in respect to the 

strength of the original signal. 

With a setting of 1 the target signal will 

be unamplified. Weak target signals 

will sound soft, medium target signals 

will sound medium and strong target 

signals will sound loud. There will be 

greater differentiation between target 

signal strengths. The weakest signals 

will produce an accordingly faint audio 

and may not be heard. 

Gain=10 

Gain=5 

Max Limit 

Gain=1 

Target Signal Strength 

With a setting of 5, the audio response 

is being partially amplified. Weak to 

medium strength signals will give 

proportional volume, but strong signals 

will not sound much louder than 

medium signals because the Volume has 

reached its maximum limit. 

With a setting of 10, all signals 

will be amplified to a very strong 

audio response. It will be harder to 

differentiate medium to strong signals, 

but even weak target signals will be 

easier to hear. 

Sound Loudness 

Weak 

Medium 

Strong 

It is also possible to 

access the VOLUME 

screen menu from 

the icon shortcut of 

the LEARN screen. 

Max Limit 

Target Signal Strength

MAIN MENU > AUDIO > TONE 

60 TONE - 

Adjusting Audio Pitch 

61 

Tone is the pitch of sound emitted by 

the detector. Adjusting Tone can help 

identify one target from another. 

To adjust TONE settings: 

Ensure that CONDUCT is selected from 

the SOUNDS screen (pg. 64) and that 

the Threshold Volume and the Volume 

MAX LIMIT are appropriate for your 

environment (i.e. for headphones or 

speaker use, ambient noise etc.) 

1 Adjust the THRESHOLD TONE to what 

you are comfortable with. This should be 

the tone you can hear most clearly. 

2 Using two targets you are likely to 

often seek (which display a difference 

of 1 or 2 on the Digital COND reading) 

adjust VARIABILITY so you can hear the 

difference between one and the other. 

3 Select a target with high conductivity 

(giving a high number on the Digital 

display) and wave it past the coil. Adjust 

LIMITS for a tone as high as possible but 

still within the range where you can hear 

well. 



THRESHOLD TONE 

TH. TONE allows you to adjust the tone 

of the Threshold ‘hum’ to best suit your 

own hearing. 

A high Threshold tone is often preferred 

by people with good hearing, where 

a low Threshold tone is preferred by 

people with hearing difficulties. 



VARIABILITY 

VARIABILITY controls how much the tone 

will change depending on the target’s 

characteristics. It can help to separate 

targets of different characteristics. 

A high variability represents a 

significant variation of tone from target 

to target. 

A low variability represents a minimum 

variation of tone from target to target. 

High Tone 

Tone 

Difference 

Low Tone 

High VARIABILITY 

Coin 

Foil 



LIMITS 

This sets the upper limit of all tones 

emitted by the Explorer SE. 

A low limit will produce only low tone 

target signals. 

A high limit will provide very high 

tone signals as well as low tone 

signals. 

Minelab recommends setting the 

upper limit to the highest tone you 

are comfortable with. 

Try testing LIMITS with a highly 

conductive object such as a large 

silver coin. 

High Tone 

Tone 

Difference 

Low Tone 

Low VARIABILITY 

Coin 

Foil

MAIN MENU > OPTIONS > RESPONSE Range: NORMAL, LONG, 

SMOOTH, PITCH HOLD 

62 RESPONSE - 

Selecting the Way Targets Sound 

63 

The RESPONSE option allows you to 

select the way target signals sound 

upon detection. RESPONSE can improve 

your ability to identify certain targets in 

differing circumstances. 

As the coil is swept over a target, the 

target signal rises. At the peak of the 

target signal, audio is emitted. 

Minelab recommend learning the 

detector in the factory preset NORMAL 

audio response. After you are familiar 

with the way the Explorer SE interprets 

various targets, then feel free to 

experiment with the various options. 

Each response may work better in a 

different scenario and you will quickly 

develop your own preferences. 

Factory Preset: NORMAL 

NORMAL 

Emits a short response to targets (almost 

a ‘beep’). NORMAL is recommended for 

general detecting conditions. It allows 

the greatest differentiation between the 

ground and a target, but has the potential 

to miss small targets in areas littered with 

objects producing a target response. 

LONG 

Offers an almost continuous audio 

response. This setting is ideal for 

responding to several targets close 

together. It is recommended for the 

experienced user, who can pick the 

differences in tone between various 

targets. LONG can be more confusing for 

the beginner but has the potential to offer 

greater accuracy and depth. 

SMOOTH 

This setting is simliar to LONG, with 

the addition of some filtering of the 

audio tone response. SMOOTH reduces 

the variability of the pitch, offering a 

smoother continuous sound. 

PITCH HOLD 

Offers a target audio response similar to 

NORMAL (almost a ‘beep’). When PITCH 

HOLD is selected, the tone of the Threshold 

also changes - after the target signal is 

heard, the Threshold ‘hum’ returns in a 

pitch similar to the pitch of the signal. The 

Threshold tone will not change on rejected 

targets, so if the Threshold changes on even 

the faintest response, you probably have a 

very small or very deep target to recover. 

The pitch of the Threshold will not change 

until a new detection is made. 

Audio Tone 

Audio Tone 

Audio Tone 

Audio Tone 

Start of Detection 

Threshold 

Threshold 

Threshold 

Threshold 

Target signal 


End of Detection 

When the target signal drops the audio blanks, 

giving a crisp end to the target response. 


Blanking 

LONG audio lasts until the end of detection. 

There is no blanking at the end of the target response. 


Blanking 

Detection Threshold 

Time 

After a detection is made, the pitch 

of the Threshold changes to the highest 

tone produced by the target. 


Threshold 

Threshold 

Threshold 

Threshold 

Time 

Time 

Time 

Time

MAIN MENU > AUDIO > SOUNDS Range: CONST, CONDUCT, FERROUS 

Factory Preset: CONDUCT 

CONDUCT 

FERROUS 

64 SOUNDS - 

This is the Factory Preset selection. 

Selecting FERROUS emits the tone 65 

Tone Identification 

The SOUNDS menu allows you to 

define how the tone varies with target 

characteristics. This can be a very useful 

feature in identifying targets close to 

each other. 

It is possible to instruct the detector to 

emit a distinct sound responding to an 

object’s ferrous characteristics, rather 

than its conductive properties. To test 

sounds upon selection it is necessary to 

move the coil across one or more targets 

with different conductive and ferrous 

properties. 

Try testing the SOUNDS settings with an 

All Metal Pattern and a range of different 

targets (pg. 36). 

CONST 

Selecting CONST eliminates the 

variation of the tone upon detection. 

All targets regardless of ferrous or 

conductivity information will sound the 

same. 

CONST is a good option for new users 

who find the different tones a little 

overwhelming. 

PITCH HOLD will not function with CONST 

selected. 

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Targets 1, 2 and 3 will produce identical 

tone response. 

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CONDUCT emits the tone according to 

the target’s conductivity (the vertical 

axis of the Smartfind screen). 

A high tone signal denotes a large, 

highly conductive object with Target 

Crosshair displayed near the top of 

the Smartfind screen (or near a Digital 

rating of 31). A low tone denotes a small 

object with low conductivity. The Target 

Crosshair is displayed near the bottom 

of the Smartfind screen (or near a Digital 

rating of 1). 

CONDUCT is often preferred by coin 

hunters, as desirable targets such as 

gold, copper and silver coins will give a 

high tone signal response. Compared to 

lower conductive junk targets such as 

foil and pull tabs. 

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Targets 1 and 2 will produce an identical 

high tone response as their conductivity 

is the same (COND 23). 

Target 3 will produce a much lower 

tone response as it has a much lower 

conductivity rating (COND 5). 

� 

according to the target’s ferrous content 

(the horizontal axis of the Smartfind 

screen or the first number in the Digital 

display). 

A low ‘blaat’ tone denotes a highly 

ferrous object, displayed on the left 

of the screen and having a high FER 

number. A high pitched ‘squeak’ tone 

denotes a non-ferrous target, displayed 

on the right of the Smartfind screen and 

having a low Fer number. 

Ferrous is often preferred by relic and 

jewelry hunters as low conductive 

targets will often give a higher pitched 

signal compared to CONDUCT, as shown 

by target 3 in the example below. 

It may be logical to select FERROUS if 

searching in Iron Mask, that way there 

is no chance of a high-ferrous target 

producing a high tone signal due to its 

high conductive characteristics. 

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Targets 2 and 3 will produce an identical 

high tone response as their ferrous 

content is the same (FER 6). 

Target 1 will produce a low tone 

response as its ferrous content is high 

(FER 25). 

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66 

Pinpointing - Locating the Target 

The exact location of a target can be 

located by using PINPOINT. 

In normal operation, the Explorer SE is 

a motion detector, meaning it must be 

moving over a target to detect it. 

Enabling Pinpoint instructs the 

detector to temporarily disengage 

Discrimination Patterns and become a 

non-motion detector, therefore targets 

normally discriminated against will emit 

a signal when underneath the coil. 

Tone 

high 

low 

low 

coil 

high 

Volume 

In Pinpoint, the detector gives a 

continuous audio response. This 

response will get louder as the coil 

passes directly above the target. 

The Pinpoint audio response is tone 

and volume modulated. The difference 

in tone and volume produced will help 

locate the position and depth of the 

target. 

In Pinpoint, the depth and Crosshair or 

FER, COND are updated. This is useful for 

identifying other targets next to the target 

you want to recover. 

low 

this target will 

produce a loud, 

high tone sound 

this target will 

produce a quiet, 

low tone sound 

1 Once the approximate target location 

is known, move the coil away from that 

area and press PINPOINT. 

2 Sweep the coil slowly over the target 

location. 

3 Taking note of the response, reduce the 

span of each successive pass of the coil 

until you are confident of the location 

of the target. Make a mental note of the 

position, or mark a line on the soil with 

your shoe or a digging tool. 

4 Move to one side so that you can pass 

the coil over the target at right angles to 

your initial direction. When the detector 

sounds you should know exactly where 

to dig. 

67 

The detector may become noisy if Pinpoint 

is enabled above a target. The detector 

may also become noisy if left in Pinpoint. If 

this occurs return to normal detection, and 

try Pinpoint again. 

Even though the Target Crosshair and FER 

COND numbers are updated in Pinpoint, 

Pinpoint is not recommended for normal 

detecting. In Pinpoint the detector “locks” 

onto the strongest target signal, which 

may result in missing targets in trashy 

areas.

68 Recovering the Target 

Where Will I Find Treasure? 

69 

A trowel, knife or small spade are good 

tools for recovering targets. 

Once a target has been located, clear 

the surface of loose material and check 

again for a signal. If there is no signal 

then the target is amongst the surface 

material. In this case, search the surface 

material until the target is located. If the 

target is still in the ground, Pinpoint its 

position. 

When digging, the aim is to leave the 

area of ground exactly as you found it. 

Using a sharp tool, cut a neat portion 

of grass or soil and place it on a plastic 

sheet. This prevents the material being 

scattered around and allows the hole to 

be refilled quickly. Dig carefully to avoid 

defacing or devaluing the object. 

Check the hole for the target. If it is 

not in the hole, place the detector on 

the ground with the coil flat, pick up a 

handful of soil and pass it over the coil. 

Be sure not to wear rings, bracelets or 

a watch which will produce a signal. 

Repeat this procedure until the target is 

located. 

Ensure that no other targets remain, 

then refill the hole. All soil and portions 

of grass on the plastic sheet should 

be returned to the hole as neatly as 

possible. Step lightly on the soil to 

compact it. 

Leaving holes, or a scarred area, may 

result in action being taken to prevent 

the use of metal detectors. Please 

ensure that you remove all rubbish and 

leave an area of ground as you found it. 

A simple and effective target probe can be 

made from a large flat-end screwdriver. 

Round off the tip of the screwdriver with a 

file to minimise damage to targets. 

Ask for permission before searching on 

private property. 

A question most new detectorists ask 

is where do I find treasure? There are 

actually lots of areas in which you can 

search, and it is best if you research 

where people have been in the past, 

and what type of objects they may have 

had with them, and hopefully lost. You 

can also go to areas people still use on 

a daily basis such as the beach or parks, 

and look for modern coins and jewelry. 

Here are a list of some of the more 

productive places to search, but be sure 

you obtain permission before entering 

any private property: 

> Your own backyard 

> The beach 

> Showgrounds & racecourses 

> Picnic areas 

> Battlefields 

> Camping grounds 

> Swimming holes 

> Parks and playgrounds 

> Ghost Towns & ancient town sites 

> Old homes & public buildings 

> Old gold mining sites 

> Sports grounds 

> School yards and ovals 

> Around jetties and piers 

> Drive-in theatres 

Basically, anywhere people have been 

in the past there is a chance you’ll 

find buried treasure - coins, relics, and 

jewelry lost years ago are sitting in the 

ground waiting to be found, and are 

also being replenished on a daily basis! 

The trick to maximising your return is to 

select sites that have the most potential. 

For example, a small park that is just 

used as a walkway between houses 

is likely to be littered with junk with 

very few valuable targets in it. Whereas 

a larger old park with picnic tables, 

playgrounds, etc. would have had 

thousands of people sitting around, 

playing sports, laying on blankets etc. 

and you can almost be certain that there 

will be some goodies waiting for your 

metal detector. 

In addition to obtaining land owners 

permission before searching on 

private property, be sure to check 

local regulations, and always refill your 

holes. If you leave the ground exactly 

as you found it, you shouldn’t have any 

problem detecting the same area in the 

future.

MAIN MENU > USER > USER SETTINGS 

70 USER SETTINGS - Saving Your 

User Preferences 

71 

Preferred Settings 

USER A USER B 

Changes to detector settings 

(e.g. Volume, Tone and Sensitivity), 

are automatically saved. The detector 

remembers these settings when it shuts 

down. However, you may find that 

different locations require a separate 

combination of settings for maximum 

effectiveness. 

Two people may have different 

preferences (e.g. Threshold, Response) 

or perhaps you divide your time 

between a couple of very different 

detecting environments (e.g. the beach 

and a highly-mineralized battlefield). 

To save current settings: 

Press the shift button next to 

SAVE - USER A or USER B. 

A screen prompt will appear asking if 

you want to save current settings in the 

memory. Select OK. 

You can now proceed to detect with 

these settings, knowing they have 

been saved for future use in similar 

conditions. 

USER SETTINGS provides you with two 

sets of memorized settings, USER A and 

USER B. These sets can be used as an 

alternative to the factory presets. USER 

SETTINGS allows you to load your own 

defined settings saving you from having 

to ‘set-up’ the detector every time you 

turn it on. 

To load saved settings: 

Press the shift button next to 

LOAD - USER A or USER B. 

A screen prompt will appear asking 

if you want to discard your current 

detector settings and load the 

memorized settings. Select OK. 

Settings will load in approximately 

3 seconds. 

SETTING RANGE FACTORY 

PRESET 

Sensitivity Mode Semi-Automatic, 

Manual 

Semi- 

Automatic 

Sensitivity Value 1 to 32 22 

Threshold Volume 0 to 40 16 

Discrimination Function Discrim, Iron Mask Discrim 

Iron Mask Value 0 to 31, All Metal 22 

Noise Channel* 1 to 11 5 x x 

Display Type Smartfind, Digital Smartfind 

Display Size Normal, Full Screen Normal 

Contrast 1 to 10 5 

Learn Cursor Size Small, Medium, 

Large 

Large 

Edit Frame Size Small, Medium, 

Large 

Small 

Audio Volume Max Limit 0 to 10 10 

Audio Volume Gain 1 to 10 8 

Audio Threshold Tone 1 to 10 5 

Audio Tone Variability 1 to 10 8 

Audio Tone Limits 1 to 10 10 

Audio Sounds CONST, CONDUCT, 

FERROUS 

Audio Response NORMAL, LONG, 

SMOOTH, PITCH 

HOLD 

CONDUCT 

NORMAL 

Options Recovery Fast On, Off Off 

Options Recovery Deep On, Off Off 

* Noise Channel is selected automatically 

by the NOISE CANCEL shortcut button or 

manually through MAIN MENU > OPTIONS 

The Noise Channel cannot 

be saved into USER A or USER B. 

Other selections not saved: 

Backlight status, Pinpoint. 

Restoring Factory Presets will not delete 

any saved USER A or B settings. 

Restoring factory presets discards all 

unsaved adjustments, except the saved 

Discrimination Patterns and USER A and 

USER B settings.

72 Battery Performance 

73 

The battery life indicator appears on 

all of the Explorer SE detect screens. 

To extend battery life: 

Use headphones. The speaker draws 

significantly more current than 

headphones from the battery. 

Turn off the backlight. The backlight 

adds about 8% to the current 

consumption of the detector. 

Turn the detector off when not in use. 

The battery will be fully shaded at maximum battery charge. 

When the alkaline or NiMH batteries approach the point 

at which they do not supply enough power to operate the 

Explorer SE, a falling extended chord is emitted from the 

speaker (or headphones). When this low battery warning 

is heard, there will be only a few minutes of life left in the 

batteries. 

When the battery symbol is completely empty, the detector 

will sound an extended ‘dropping’ tune and display a 

message immediately before turning itself off. 

Battery Voltage (volts) 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

The average life-span for both good 

quality alkaline and NiMH rechargeable 

batteries under constant use is 

compared on the graph below. This 

graph assumes the backlight is turned 

off and headphones are being used. 

It is recommended that the batteries 

be replaced or recharged as soon as 

possible to avoid missing any targets. 

Alkaline batteries will power the 

Explorer SE for up to 16 hours of 

constant use. The NiMH 1600 battery 

pack will power the detector for up to 

16 hours of constant use and the NiMH 

1800 battery pack for 20 hours. 

AA battery 

1600 NiMH 

Unlike Nickel Cadmium batteries, the 

NiMH battery pack DOES NOT have to be 

flattened to be recharged. 

Whenever the detector has been unused 

for a lengthy period, recharge the battery 

pack to ensure full performance. 

There is no limit to the time the battery 

pack can be left on charge. 

When the battery power has been 

depleted, it is recommended that the 

batteries be replaced or recharged as 

soon as possible to avoid missing any 

targets. 

1800 NiMH 

8 

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 

Approximate Time in Hours

74 Accessories 

Technical Specifications 

75 

Parts and Accessories available 

for the Explorer SE: 

10” Slimline FBS Coil 

8” FBS Coil With Lower Shaft 

10” Coil Skidplate 

8” Coil Skidplate 

Sealed 1600mA/H NiMH Battery Pack 

Sealed 1800mA/H NiMH Battery Pack 

‘AA’ Housing Battery Pack 

Mains Charger 

12V Car Charger 

Koss UR-30 Headphones 

RPG Headphones 

Carbon Fibre Lower Shaft 

Tall Man Lower Shaft 

Armrest 

Armrest Strap with Buckles 

Coil Nut & Bolt (pk of 5) 

Coil washers (pk of 10) 

Control Box Cover 

Detector Carry Bag 

Instruction Manual 

Minelab Cap 

Minelab Polo Shirt 

Minelab Sleeveless Body Warmer 

Minelab Trash Bag 

Recharging NiMH Battery Pack 

with the Car Charger: 

1 Remove battery pack (pg. 10). 

2 Insert the car charger plug into the 

accessories socket of your vehicle. 

3 Insert the car charger plug into the 

socket at the tapered end of the battery 

pack. A small light on the car charger 

illuminates indicating that the car 

charger is in operation. 

4 Leave for 18 hours to fully recharge. 

If the battery was not completely 

discharged, the charging time will be 

shorter. 

The car charger is provided with a 3AG 

2Amp fast blow fuse for short circuit 

protection. This can be accessed by 

unscrewing the tip of the accessories plug. 

Some vehicles will need the ignition to be 

switched on to ‘accessories’ for power to be 

supplied to the charger. 

Charging the battery beyond full capacity 

will not damage the NiMH battery pack, 

but it could gradually discharge your car 

battery. 

Length Unextended 43 Inches (1100mm) 

Length Extended 55 Inches (1358mm) 

Shipping Weight 3 lb 7 oz (1700g) Excluding Batteries 

Coil 10.5 inches (264mm). “Double D” Waterproof 

Audio Output Internal Speaker and Headphones 

Headphone Input 1/4 Inch (6.3mm) 100 Ω Stereo Jack 

Transmission Full Band Spectrum. Simultaneous Frequency 

Transmission ranging from 1.5kHz –100kHz 

Ground Rejection Auto Ground Compensation – 

Advanced Digital Filtering 

Discrimination Smartfind Two-Dimensional Discrimination 

Visual Display 64 x 128 Pixel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 

Control Panel 

Batteries 12V 

Patents US 4890064, US 5537041, US 5506506 

Custom Select Discrimination Yes 

Learn Function (Accept/Reject) Yes 

Saved Discrimination Patterns 6 

Edit Function Yes 

Auto Noise Cancel (Scanning) Yes 

Manual Noise Cancel Yes 

User Saved Settings Current, User A, User B 

Response Normal, Long, Smooth, Pitch Hold 

Recovery Selectable (Fast & Deep)

76 Detector Care and Safety 

Troubleshooting 

77 

The Explorer SE is a high-quality 

electronic instrument, finely engineered 

and packaged in a durable housing. 

Taking proper care of the detector is 

mostly common-sense. 

Do not leave the battery pack in the 

Explorer SE handle when the detector is 

not in use for extended periods of time. 

Damage caused by leaking batteries 

could be severe and would void the 

warranty through user negligence. 

If temperatures are very high, do not 

leave the detector in excessive heat for 

longer than necessary. Covering it when 

not in use will help protect it. Try to 

avoid leaving it in a closed car trunk or 

in a car sitting in sunlight. A full-length 

detector carry bag is available to protect 

the detector when in transit. 

The control box has been designed 

to resist moisture. However, Minelab 

advises protecting the control box in 

extreme conditions. Obviously the 

control box should not be dropped 

into water. A control box cover will give 

protection against dust, dirt and rain. 

Never allow the detector to come 

into contact with gasoline or other 

petroleum-based liquids. 

Keep the detector clean and dry and 

avoid getting sand and grit into the 

shafts or fastenings (e.g. yoke bolt and 

camlocks). Do not use solvents to clean 

the detector. Use a damp cloth with mild 

soap detergent. 

Ensure the coil cable is in good 

condition and not subject to undue 

stress. 

The Explorer SE coil is only compatible 

with FBS technology detectors such as 

previous Explorers and the Quattro MP. 

Flat or faulty batteries cause many 

detector problems. Ensure that only 

quality alkaline batteries are used, 

and that they are replaced when you 

hear the warning signal through the 

headphones or speaker. 

Do not dispose of battery pack in 

fire (contact local authorities for 

disposal/recycling). Do not attempt to 

disassemble or short circuit the battery 

pack. 

Take precautions when transporting 

or storing the detector. Although the 

detector is constructed from the highest 

quality materials and has undergone 

rigorous durability tests, the display 

screen could be prone to scratching or 

serious damage if not treated with due 

care. 

Detector does not 

start at all 

Detector starts, but 

switches off by itself 

No sound 

> Check the state of the batteries and battery connections. 

> Ensure battery pack lid is completely closed. 

> If using alkaline batteries, check whether they have been 

loaded in the right polarity. 

> Check the state of the batteries. If necessary, try starting with 

batteries known to be in good condition. 

> Detector may be too hot. Allow detector to cool down in a 

shaded area. 

> Try starting the detector with search coil disconnected. If the 

detector starts normally, check the state of the coil cable. If 

it is damaged, replace the coil. Otherwise return detector for 

repairs. 

> Unplug the headphones. If there is sound in the speaker but 

not in the headphones, check the headphones and their 

connection. 

> Check the AUDIO > VOLUME > MAX LIMIT 

(a setting of 0 is silent). 

> If there is no sound in the speaker or the headphones but 

the detector appears to work normally otherwise, return the 

detector for repairs. 

Erratic noises > Press the NOISE CANCEL shortcut button or manually 

select a quiet channel. 

> Reduce the Sensitivity. 

> Change the orientation of the coil to the vertical plane and 

rotate to see if there is a position where the noise is loudest. 

If this is the case, it means that there is a source of 

interference nearby which must be avoided. 

> Check battery charge and battery connections. 

> Ensure coil connector is tightened firmly. 

> Check headphones and their connection. 

> Check for sand or grit between coil cover and coil. 

No target response 

> Ensure the detector is turned on. 

> Check headphones and their connection. 

> Check coil connection. 

> Check discrimination level. No signal will be given if target is 

within black area of screen.

78 Glossary of Terms 

79 

Alloy A substance which is composed 

of two or more metals (an alloy may also 

include non-metals). 

Camlock Lever which releases or locks 

detector’s assembly components. The 

Explorer SE’s upper and lower shafts are 

held together by the shaft camlock. This 

shaft assembly is fixed to the control 

box by the control box camlock. 

Coil The coil is the circular plate swept 

across the ground surface during 

detecting. It transmits electromagnetic 

signals into the ground and receives the 

response. 

Conductivity A measure of the ability of 

a target to allow eddy currents induced 

by the transmitter. 

Control Box Encloses the electronic 

components necessary to generate and 

interpret signals transmitted from the 

search coil and provide user access to 

functions via the control panel. 

Control Panel This panel, which is 

the front of the control box, houses 

the display screen and provides pressbutton 

access to all of the detector’s 

operating functions. 

Digital One of Explorer SE’s displays. 

Digital rates an object’s conductivity 

and ferrous content as a figure between 

0 and 31. 

Discrimination The ability of a metal 

detector to identify the user’s desired 

target and eliminate signals from 

undesirable objects. The Explorer SE can 

be programmed to discriminate against 

unwanted targets in either Iron Mask or 

Discrim. 

Discrimination Pattern A twodimensional 

pattern made up of shaded 

and clear regions of the Smartfind 

screen. Characteristics of a target are 

used to determine its position on a twodimensional 

display. A Discrimination 

Pattern can be modified by the user to 

accept or reject certain targets. 

Edit allows the user to customize an 

existing Discrimination Pattern to match 

preferred target characteristics. 

Ferrous Composed of or containing 

iron. A ferrous object is one that is 

predominantly or completely iron. 

Ferrous objects (e.g. nails) are usually 

not desired by the detectorist. 

Ferrous Content While metals are 

commonly divided between ferrous and 

non-ferrous metals, this usually refers to 

them being magnetic or non-magnetic. 

However most metals do have some 

ferrous content, even when classed as 

‘non-ferrous’. 

Except for the very purest of metals, the 

Explorer SE is able to test the ferrous 

content of a metal target and use this in 

it’s target identification. 

Full Band Spectrum (FBS) 

Simultaneous frequency transmission 

ranging from 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz. This 

range in frequencies means that the 

signals received from the detector 

coil are analyzed from a wide range of 

responses. 

Full Screen Target details shown on the 

full screen with display border and the 

other screen elements removed. An icon 

at the center right of screen switches to 

full screen display. 

Ground Compensation The ability 

of the detector to compensate for the 

effects of ground mineralization. 

Handle Assembly Part of the detector 

made up of the control box, handle and 

armrest. 

Iron Mask The Iron Mask function 

rejects objects with ferrous properties. 

This level of ferrous rejection is 

represented with a dark ‘curtain’ which 

moves across the horizontal dimension 

of the Smartfind screen as the Iron Mask 

is adjusted. 

Learn allows the user to accept or reject 

certain targets to create a personalized 


Low-ferrous containing little iron. Lowferrous 

objects or non-magnetic metals 

(such as silver or copper coins, gold 

jewelry, etc). 

Mineralized Ground 

Containing certain minerals which 

can cause false signals to be given. 

Mineralized ground is handled 

automatically by the Explorer SE’s 

ground compensation. 

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Nickel 

Metal Hydride batteries are the modern 

equivalent of older NiCad (Nickel 

Cadmium) batteries. NiMH batteries 

have a longer life-span and are not 

affected by memory to the same 

degree.

80 Glossary of Terms (Continued) 

81 

Pinpoint Function allowing an object to 

be precisely located. Pinpoint overrides 

the automatic motion detection and 

discrimination settings of the Explorer 

SE. 

Recovery allows the user to modify 

the way the discrimination process 

works and affects the audio and display 

responses to target characteristics. 

Response The signal or audible 

indication of a target. Also a menu 

option affecting the audio response of 

the detector. 

Sensitivity The detector’s level of 

response to a target in the presence of 

ground noise and/or electromagnetic 

disturbance. 

Shaft Assembly An adjustable 

assembly made up of the upper and 

lower shaft connected by camlocks. The 

shaft assembly connects the coil to the 

handle assembly. 

Shift Buttons The three buttons at 

either side of the display screen. They 

allow selection of adjacent menu items, 

movement of screen slider controls and 

adjustment of settings. 

Shortcut Buttons on the control panel 

offer quick access to the functions and 

settings most likely to be used during 

detector operation. NOISE CANCEL, 

IRON MASK, PINPOINT and DETECT 

are all shortcut buttons. 

Slider Control Visual representation 

of setting adjustments for a particular 

function (e.g. screen contrast). Settings 

are adjusted with shift buttons at either 

side of the display screen. 

Smartfind One of the Explorer SE’s 

displays. Smartfind visually represents 

target details using two-dimensional 

discrimination. 

Threshold (hum) The audible level 

of sound emitted when no target 

is detected is the Threshold. This 

Threshold hum is the background sound 

made as the Explorer SE operates. The 

optimum Threshold volume is a faint, 

but audible hum.

82 Warranty 

Service Repair Form 

83 

There is a two-year parts and labour 

warranty for the electronic control box 

of the Explorer SE. The coil has a one 

year parts and labour warranty. Refer 

to the supplier or Minelab for service, 

either in or out of warranty. The Minelab 

warranty does not cover damage caused 

by accident, misuse, neglect, alteration, 

modifications, or unauthorized service. 

For specific details of the Minelab 

warranty, please refer to the detector’s 

‘Product Warranty Card’. 

This warranty is not transferable, nor 

is it valid unless the enclosed warranty 

registration card is returned to Minelab 

or your Minelab dealer within 14 days of 

the original purchase. 

Repairs 

In the unfortunate circumstance that 

the detector needs to be returned 

to Minelab for service, please fill out 

the Minelab Service Repair Form (or a 

photocopy of the same) and enclose it 

with the detector. 

Please supply as much detail about 

the fault as possible. This will assist our 

service engineers to rectify the problem 

quickly and efficiently. 

cut out or photocopy 

Today’s Date 

Detector / Model 

Serial Number 

Purchased From 

Purchase Date 

Faulty Part(s) 

Owner’s Name 

Address 

Telephone ( ) Day Home 

Fax ( ) 

Email 

Description of Fault 

Please explain how we can replicate the problem in order to fix your detector.

Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd 

PO Box 537, Torrensville Plaza 

Adelaide, South Australia, 5031 

Australia 

Tel: 61-8-8238 0888 

Fax: 61-8-8238 0890 

Email: minelab@minelab.com.au 

Minelab International Ltd 

Laragh, Bandon 

Co. Cork 

Ireland 

Tel: 353 23 52 101 

Fax: 353 23 52 106 

Email: minelab@minelab.ie 

Minelab USA Inc 

871 Grier Drive, Suite B1 

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119 

USA 

Tel: 1 702 891 8809 

Fax: 1 702 891 8810 

Email: minelab@minelabusa.com 

For further product information 

and detecting tips, refer to: 

WWW.MINELAB.COM 

© Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd 

This document contains proprietary 

information which is protected by copyright. 

Apart from any use as permitted under 

the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be 

reproduced by any process without written 

permission from Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd, 

118 Hayward Avenue, Torrensville, SA 5031, 

Australia. 

WARNING. This document contains Minelab 

Electronics Pty Ltd rights, technical data or 

restricted rights data, or both. Patents and 

trademarks apply. 

Working for a Cleaner, 

Greener Future 

For Consumers within the European Union: 

Do not dispose of this equipment in general 

household waste. 

The crossed out wheeled bin indicated 

on this equipment is an indicator that this 

unit should not be disposed of in general 

household waste, but recycled in compliance 

with local government regulations or 

environmental requirements. 

Please dispose of this equipment via a 

recycling service or centre, or by returning 

the unit to the respective Minelab or Halcro 

outlet as appropriate for your unit. This will 

enable the equipment to be disposed 

of in an environmentally safe manner. 

Disposal of unwanted electronic equipment 

in landfi lled waste may contribute to 

adverse long term environmental eff ect 

due to the leaching of contaminating and 

toxic substances contained within some 

electronic equipment. 

Disclaimer: 

The Minelab metal detector discussed 

in this operating manual has been 

expressly designed and manufactured as 

a quality hobbyist metal detector and is 

recommended for use in coin, treasure and 

general metal detection in non-hazardous 

environments. This metal detector has not 

been designed for use as a mine detector 

or as a live munitions detection tool. 

Please note: 

Since there may be a variety of options 

available for this detector, equipment 

may vary according to the Model or 

items ordered with your detector. Certain 

descriptions and illustrations may also diff er 

(in this manual) from the exact Model that 

you purchased. In addition, Minelab 

reserves the right to respond to ongoing 

technical progress by introducing changes 

in design, equipment and technical 

features at any time. 

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH 

PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES 

Operation is subject to the following two 

conditions: (1) this device may not cause 

harmful interference, and (2) this device 

must accept any interference received, 

including interference that may cause 

undesired operation. 

Item Number: 4901 - 0061 

Revision: 1.1

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